Adjustable golf-club.



A. C. GOODRICH.

ADJUSTABLE GOLF CLUB.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJS, 1914.

1,250,301 Patented Dec. 18, 1917.

- w 4 Wit-5T5 K VE in I GOOIL IZ I. v [I p ALON'ZO C. GOODBICH, OF CHICAGO, ZLLINOIS.

ADJUSTABLE GOLF-CLUB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 13. 1914. Serial No. 856,517.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALoNzo C. Goonmon, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Golf-Clubs; and I do hereby eclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This Invention has for its object the con- .struction of a golf club, the head of which is adjustable through various angles whereby the many different shots played in the game of golf may be made, by the use of only a single club, thus obviating the inconvenience of carryinga number of different clubs, and as well simplifying the game in many other respects. Clubs with adjustable heads have been constructed heretofore, but generally the heads have not fitted snugly to the shaft of the club, and consequently the looseness or slight play present, has made the club objectionable and consequently such clubs have not come into general use. Another objection to clubs with an adjustable head has 'been due to the fact that when the head has I of alin'ement with the. shaft to such an extent that a different swing is required in or-- derto strike the ball correctly.

It is an object of this invention to construct an adjustable. golf club wherein the head is piyotally mounted upon the end of the club shaft, and with the disposition and arrangement of the parts being such that the pivotal movement of the head into its various adjusted positions only moves the lower edge ofthe club a negligible amount with respect to its relation to the axis of the shaft.

It is also an object of this invention, to provide and improved means for adjusting the head of a club relative the shank on which it is pivotally mounted, so that adjustment of the head may be made in a yery short space of time and without inconvemence.

It is furthermore an important object of this invention 'to construct a golf club wherein the head is pivoted at the heel of the club on an axis which is substantially alinedin a plane through theaxis of the shank of the club, thus maintaining the lower edge of the club properly positioned wlth respect to the shaft in practically all positions of adjustment.

It is finally an object of this invention to construct an adjustable golf club wherein a simplified means is provided for eflecting the various adjustments, said means acting to hold the head of the club rigidlyin its yarlous positions, and yet permittm adjustment from time to time as desire and with no inconvenience whatever.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear view of the lower end of a gold club, the shaft being 0mitted,'sh0wing an adjustable head mounted on the shank.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof with the head broken away.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2. F Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4:, showing a modified form of construction.

Fig. 6 is an end view of the inner end of the head.

Fig 7 is an end view of the lower portion of the shank, on which said head fits.

As shown in the drawings The reference numeral 1, indicates the shank of a club, which is adapted to receive the shaft therein (not shown) and integral with the lower end of said shank is an extension 2', which is angled slightly with respect to the axis of the shank. as shown Patented Dec. 18,1917.

clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, and is flanged over on its upper edge and provided with a downwardly directed tongue 3. Another tongue radial recesses in said flanged portions of the extension 2, and each is provided with a shank 8, which projects through an aperture in the flanged portion of said extension 2, and on its upper end is provided'with a head 9.

Small splral compression springs 10, are

mounted within the recesses of said flanged portion of the extension 2, and are wound about the shank 8, of the locking pins in order to normally impel the same downwardly, the same being limited in their movement by the heads 9. The head of the club, which is pivotally attached to the shank is denoted as' a whole by the reference numera 11, and is provided with recessed portions engaging the respective tongues 3 and 4, of the extension 2, of the shank. Said head 11, at its inner end is provided with two radially directed recesses 12, either one of which is adapted to be engaged by either one of said respective looking pins 6 and 7. Consequently, the head 11, is capable of being moved into four diiferent adjustments; Substantially in alinement with the lower edge of the head 11, a gudgeon pin 13, is formed integrally thereon, adapted to engage in the slot 5, of the extension 2, said connection affording a pivot center for movement of the head upon the shank.

In the modification of my invention illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, I provide a shank 14, provided with an integral extension 15, which has a groove 16, in the upper flanged portion thereof, and a tongue 17, on the contact face thereof, said groove and tongue of course being disposed in a curve concentric about the center of a slot 18, in the lower end of the extension. A head 19, is provided with a gudgeon or pivot pin 20, adapted to engage in the slot 18, and is provided with a. curved tongue 21, on the upper end thereof to engage the groove 16, and a recess to engage the tongue 17 of the shank. However, in place of the spring impelled locking pins of the prior construction, I provide a series of worm gear teeth 22, in the face of the extension 15, arranged concentrically about the center of the slot 18, disposed in the form of a rack, and, journaled in the head 19, is a worm 23, adapted to mesh with the teeth in the surface of the extension 15, to move the head into various adjusted positions with respect to the shank of the club. A squared end portion 24 is provided on said worm shaft in order to permit engagement thereof by a suitable tool or even the fingers of the user to rotate the worm, thereby adjusting the head 19, into its various angled positions.

The operation is as follows:

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, an adjustment movement of the head 11, is effected by elevating the particular locking pint or 7 as the case may be, which, at the time, holds the headll, in a locked adjusted position, and the head may then be moved about its pivot 13, into another position, and of course one of the pins 6 or 7, as the case may be, clicks in o said extension 2, receives a certain amount of the stress imposed upon the device when a blow is struck, thereby relieving the locking pins and pivot pin, to a certain extent, of the shearing stress imposed thereon.

In the modification of my device illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, I have shown a worm and tooth means of adjusting the head of the club through practically" any desired angle of adjustment, the adjustment being attained merely by rotation of the worm 23, which, engaging the worm teeth 22, of the shank extension, efl'ects the adjustment, and as well looks or holds the head so adjusted.

I am aware that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range withoutdeparting from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not I purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described a shank, an extension integral therewith and 'angled thereto, a head having pivotal engagement in a slot in the lower end of said extension, coacting concentric tongue and grooves on said head and extension to retain the same in various positions of adjustment, and a plurality of spring impelled locking means projecting through said extension adapted to lock said head in various positions of adjustment.

2. In a device of the class described a. shank, an extension integral therewith having an open slot in the lower end thereof, a head pivoted on said extension, a plurahty of spring impelled locking means mounted in said extension adapted to lock the device in various positions of adjustment, concentric coacting tongue and grooves'on said head and extension to guide and retain the same in various positions of adjustment, and a gudgeon pin on said head adapted to freely engage said slot to afford a pivot center for adjustment of the head.

3. In a golf club of the class described a shank adapted to receive a golf stick secured therein, an extension on said shank, a striking head pivoted thereto, said extension angled with respect to the axisof said shank, a curved grooved flange formed on said head, a curved tongue formed on said extension adapted to interfit the grooved flange of said head to guide the head in its movement, another curved flange of less radius formed on said extension and interfitting another groove on said head, and spring controlled means pro edring through said extension maintaining said and means projecting through said extenhead in different positions on said extension. sion holding said head in various adjusted i. In a golf club of the class described the positions on the shank. con'ibination with a shank and extension in- In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub- 5 tegrally formed thereon, of a plurality of scribed my name in the presence of two 15 concentric curved tongues formed on said subscribing Witnesses.

extension, a head releasably pivoted on said ALONZO C; GOODRICH. extension and having grooves therein inter- \Vitnesses: fitting with said tongues to guide the head CHARLES W. HILLS, Jr.,

10 in adjusting movements on said extension, FRANK K. HUDSON.- 

